VISBY FOUR SEASONS IN MEDIEVAL VISBY
AGNETA LARSSON
VOTUM
SVARTBR. G.
STUDENTALLEN
The City Wall, towers and gates
1 Kruttornet
2 Kärleksporten
3 Sprundflaskan
4 Murfallet
(Tumbledown Wall)
9 Tranhusporten
8 Lübeckerbräschen (Lübeckian Breach)
9 Tranhusporten (Fish Oil Gate)
10 St. George’s Gate
10 S:t Göransporten 11 Långa Lisa 12 Norderport
11 Långa Lisa (Lofty Lisa)
13 Mynthuset
5 Jungfrutornet
5 Jungfrutornet (Maiden Tower)
6 Kames
6 Kames
7 Snäckgärdsporten
7 Snäckgärdsporten (Landing Beach Gate)
8 Lübeckerbräschen
12 Norderport (North Gate)
14 Brunnsporten
15 Dalmanstornet
13 Mynthuset (The Mint)
16 Österport
14 Brunnsporten (Well Gate)
17 Kvar ntornet
15 Dalmanstornet (Dalman Tower)
16 Österport (East Gate)
18 Skolporten
17 Kvarntornet (Mill Tower)
18 Skolporten (School Gate)
19 Tjärkoket
20 Kajsartornet
19 Tjärkoket (Tar Works)
21 Kajsarporten
20 Kajsartornet (Emperor Tower)
22 Huset m. målninga 23 Söderport
21 Kajsarporten (Emperor Gate)
22 Huset med målningar (House with Paintings)
24 Skansport
23 Söderport (South Gate)
25 Palissadporten
24 Skansporten (Mound Gate)
25 Palissadporten (Palisade Gate)
SÖDRA MURGATAN
TUNNBINDAREGATAN
KNÄGRÄND
WALLÉRS PL.
STETTINERGRÄND
ADELSGATAN
KINBERGS PLATS KLOCKGR. KLOCKGJ.GR. BERG GR. S:T MICHAELS GRÄND SÖDRA MURGATAN BERG GR. KANNGJ.GR.
ADELSGATAN
HÄSTGATAN VÅRDKLOCKEGATAN
S:t HANSGATAN
Cultural and historical buildings, ruins, churches, museums, etc.
26 Visborg Castle Ruin 27 St. Nicolai Church Ruin 28 St. Gertrude’s Church Ruin
33 S:t Olofs ruin
Kapitelhuset (Biskopens vedbod) 35 S:t Drottens ruin
33 St. Olof’s Church Ruin 34 Kapitelhuset (Bishop’s woodshed)
35 Holy Trinity Church Ruin
Gotlands Konstmuseum
S:t Hans o S:t Pers ruiner
Gamla residenset
Visborgs slottsruin 27 S:t Nicolai ruin 28 S:ta Gertruds ruin 29 Helge Ands ruin 30 S:t Klemens
Helge And’s Church Ruin
30 St. Clemens’ Church Ruin
31 Visby Cathedral Saint Mary’s 32 Johan the Painter’s House
S:t Lars ruin
36 St. Lars’ Church Ruin
Gamla Apoteket 38 S:ta Karins ruin
37 The Old Pharmacy
38 St. Karin’s Church Ruin
39 The Clematis House
huset
Botaniska trädgården
Botanical Garden
Almedalen
Gotland Meadow
40 The House of Liljehorn 41 Gotland Museum 42 Gotland Art Museum 43 St. Hans’ and St. Per’s Church Ruins 44 The Old Residence
Gotlands museum
Pavilion Plan
Almedalen
In the Almedalen park area, people now stroll where waves once lapped against the medieval walls. As early as the 9th century, this area served as a sheltered harbour. Travellers from the East and West arrived here and as trade flourished, the merchant town of Visby began to grow. In the 13th century, the city wall – stretching 3.4 kilometres – was built to safeguard Visby’s people and goods. The sea wall at Almedalen was the first section to be constructed. Today, remnants of its bricked-up harbour gates are still visible. The oldest gates feature rounded arches, while later ones have pointed arches.
Over time, the harbour became too shallow and by the late 15th century, it was relocated to the site still in use today. The idyllic pond in Almedalen is a small reminder that this area was once a bustling port.
Kruttornet (The Gunpowder Tower)
Standing 25 meters high, the Gunpowder Tower is Visby’s oldest preserved building. Built in the mid-12th century, it served as a defensive tower guarding the northern entrance to the harbour.
In the 18th century, it was repurposed as a gunpowder store for the Swedish state, hence its name.
Constructed from large limestone blocks and beach stones at its lower levels, the tower stands five stories tall with vaulted rooms and narrow passageways. A latrine with an outlet facing the sea can still be seen in the wall.
The beautiful coastal promenade invites visitors to enjoy a leisurely five-kilometre walk along the sea, ending at Snäck Beach.
Below Kärleksporten (Lovers’ Gate) stands a spiral-shaped sculpture that was built in 2011 by about ten artists from the Nyteks association.
Nordermur (North Wall)
Once a rocky, barren and foreboding moat, the area along the northern wall has been transformed into soft, rolling greenery.
Snäckgärdsporten (Landing Beach Gate) in Nordermur is the oldest of Visby’s city wall gate towers. Visitors can climb up the tower to enjoy breathtaking views of the sea and the city.
St. Göranstornet (St. George’s Tower)
Look closely, and you’ll spot a catapult stone lodged in one of the arrow slits, a silent reminder of a siege that took place centuries ago.
Today, less threatening things get caught in the arrow slits.
Welcome inside the walls of the World Heritage City of Visby.
Through stunning photography, you will embark on an exploration of the city’s streets and alleys, step inside its ruins and climb its towers. Experience Visby both in grand perspectives and through the smallest details captured in words and images.
This book takes you on a journey through all four seasons from the fresh greenery of spring to hot summer days when the alleys are filled with blooming flowers and golden sunsets. It then leads you into the dramatic colours of autumn that fade gradually into a striking black-and-white winter landscape when soft snow embraces the city in a magical stillness.
See the extraordinary in the ordinary, engage all your senses, turn the pages and enjoy!
978-91-89843-39-4